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Rogers Communications' News 95.7 FM Erases Andrew Krystal |
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Written by D.L. McCracken
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Tuesday, 30 January 2007 |
Rogers Communications is a huge conglomerate of business acquisitions including but not limited to, Rogers Wireless, Rogers Telecom, Rogers Media, Rogers Broadcasting, Rogers Publishing and Rogers Sportsnet. According to Wikipedia, the Canadian communications goliath has boasted an operating income of over $2 billion with revenue topping $7.5 billion. In 2006, twenty-two percent of all revenue was generated through the company's radio division. The broadcasting division controls 46 radio stations including the subject of this article, News 95.7 FM.
If you're an afficionado of the talk radio format, no doubt you've at least heard of News 95.7 which officially took to the airways in 2005. Based in Halifax, the all-news format quickly became a staple to many and a dedicated fan base began to take hold. One program in particular drew a trickling of listeners at first but has been able to boast of a steady and slowly growing list of dedicated listeners. That show, "Maritime Mornings" is broadcast live each weekday beginning at 9 AM. The host was Andrew Krystal. "Was" being the operative word.
Krystal's personal life off air has allegedly taken a precipitous nose-dive over the last several weeks and because the law is involved, the powers-that-be at 95.7 FM headquarters decided in all their wisdom to simply erase him. As Krystal's legal problems began to emerge he continued to broadcast live from the studio as was routine. Then one morning his listeners tuned in only to discover that they were being fed a repeat of an earlier Krystal show. No biggie, one might have thought, 'he's probably sick or took some vacation time', as they turn the radio dial to the Hotline Show on CJCH. If nothing else, good old Rick Howe is at least dependable.
And then something curious happened. I was contacted by someone who calls into various shows on 95.7 from time to time. My source informed me that on January 27 - last Saturday, he made a call to Bill Carr who is the host of his own show every Saturday morning. His call was as usual answered by Mr. Carr's producer who screens all calls coming in but this particular morning, my source was given a very terse warning - he was ordered in no uncertain terms that he was "not allowed" to use the name "Andrew Krystal" on air. The producer's only explanation was "because of the law". Because my source had no initial intentions of talking about Krystal, I have to wonder if all callers that morning were warned.
Now this particular caller is curious - why was he not allowed to say the name "Andrew Krystal" on air and why was the station suddenly categorizing the poor guy as persona non grata? Naturally, the first thing he did when he finally went on air was to ask Mr. Carr why his producer was forbidding callers to mention Mr. Krystal. Mr. Carr denied any knowledge of the station's decree. My source noted however that during the time that Mr. Carr was denying knowledge of the warning and defending all caller's rights to talk about anything they chose, he never once uttered 'he who will not be mentioned by name'.
Andrew Krystal was being erased. And I have a problem with that.
The fact of the matter is that Krystal did have a dedicated audience and it was slowly but surely growing. He even managed to gain a few regulars from CJCH's Hotline show and that was considered quite a coup. If his listeners don't use a computer, they would have no idea what happened. In that respect, Rogers is displaying a complete lack of respect for those dedicated listeners.
And then it was Monday. Krystal's fans tune in at 9 AM and what is the first thing they hear? "Monday Mornings with Bill Carr"! Krystal has been completely erased. It's just like he never was. Bill Carr has been told to keep quiet about 'he who will not be mentioned by name' and the morning's producers continue to screen callers on the look-out for anyone who wants to know where he is.
It's business as usual on the radio station that advertises itself as "All News All The Time". Bill Carr is a great host but let's face it, he's no Andrew Krystal, like him or not.
The suits at Rogers have displayed a total indifference to not only an employee but a blatant lack of respect for his dedicated fan base. If they lose an audience it will be their own fault for the manner in which they conducted themselves.
I have stopped listening to News 95.7 FM and I blame that on Rogers, not Krystal. Rogers has managed to expose their true colours here and have joined the ranks of all Big Business who operate under the mantra, "Screw the consumers, we have shareholders to please".
Shame on you, Rogers for the way you have erased Andrew Krystal and for showing a complete disregard for your audience.
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